RTE admit to error over Late Late Gay Byrne endorsement of Mannix Flynn

[kerrynorth]

Despite admitting their culpability on the matter RTE appear to want the complainant, the Labour Party DoE for South East Inner City, to withdraw the complaint. However, the complainant is stating that he has no intention of doing so. We pointed this out on the night here on p.ie. And it was no accident on RTE's part as Pat Kenny prompted him about the canvassing card for Mannix Flynn sticking out of his top pocket.
Backing of artist on 'Late Late' prior to poll wrong, admits RTÉ - The Irish Times - Mon, Jul 13, 2009

[mccafferty cat]

The only thing that surprised me, was when that fool Byrne didn't come straight out with an Eoghan Harris style endorsement of Fianna Fail.

Mannix Flynn is an absolute loon, as has been shown by events since his election. (Announcing for Lord Mayor on the day of the count; announcing for the General Election 2 days later....)

[Al Bino]

Fair play to the Labour Councillor for pursuing this matter. The late late show has on many occasions being allowed to engage in blatant political bias. Not least on the occasion of its treatment of FG in relation to the debate on reform of the Senate.

It is also somewhat arrogant of RTE to assume to write off the complaint because the labour candidate topped the poll. I hope this complaint is pursued to the last and an outcome arrived at whereby this sort of political shenanigans is no longer tolerated.

[toxic avenger]

But what about that Labour poster on Fair City, eh?...

RTE know the rules full well, and Pat Kenny of all people should know the political sh1t-storm that allowing, let alone prompting, a rant in favour of a specific candidate just before an election would cause. I think they just have to take what's coming...

[Al Bino]

But what about that Labour poster on Fair City, eh?...

That should be dealt with too. However, you're not necessarily comparing like with like. One programme is an institution while the other is, well, just Fair City. Does anyone watch? Any fans out there? C'mon own up!

[cllr]

Why uis anybody surprised that RTE looked after one of their own. it has beeing doing that for years.

Someone once described RTE to me as : " a palce where former Student Union leaders Interview former Student Union leaders".

It is and always has been an old mates club and Mannix and Pat and Gabriel Byrne are simply all part of that along with ................ well you could name the Panels of Q+A yourselves.

[sandar]

that is shaemful of RTE.

[lostexpectation]

it was just byrnes personal opinion he was saying lots of things that night, the rte balance rules do nobody a favour.

[JoRo]

Actually I think it's odd that a couple of seconds of a labour flyer on Fair City caused such a huge uproar both on P.ie and in the IT, and the Gabriel Byrne interview, which I saw, seemed to glide by everyone without comment. Fair play to the Labour Councillor for raising it. The interview actually had Pat Kenny refer to the election literature in Byrne's pocket, where upon Byrne whipped it out and waved it around and talked about Flynn for several minutes. It was blatant.

[toxic avenger]

Actually I think it's odd that a couple of seconds of a labour flyer on Fair City caused such a huge uproar both on P.ie and in the IT, and the Gabriel Byrne interview, which I saw, seemed to glide by everyone without comment. Fair play to the Labour Councillor for raising it. The interview actually had Pat Kenny refer to the election literature in Byrne's pocket, where upon Byrne whipped it out and waved it around and talked about Flynn for several minutes. It was blatant.

I think it was more jokey in relation to the Fair City thing, I think it was only a handful of the slightly more intense posters who took it in any way seriously...